CORE STABILITY TRAINING FOR IMPROVED PERFORMANCE – ANY REAL EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THIS? “Currently, plank exercises are considered an adequate method of training the core for athletes to improve core strength and stability. This is a problem because it puts the athletes in a nonfunctional static position that is very rarely replicated in the demands of sport-related activities. The core is the center of most kinetic chains in the body and should be trained accordingly” So the idea that core stability has an underpinning affect on performance as suggested by lots of theories, systems and guru’s is not really reflected in the research. At best we see some weak correlations. Based on this evidence can we whole-heartedly support the current trend and implementation of core training under the justification of athletic enhancement? We have to remember that you will always be working your core. As it is attached in various places to your pelvis, ribcage and spine when they move so will your core muscles. Reaching overhead or bending down to do up your shoelaces are both core exercises. Running would be a great core workout as your pelvis and spine rotate in opposite directions. Secondly lots of people have lives that don’t expose them to very much variation in movement. Driving, sitting at a desk even texting involve staying in the same position for an extended period of time, a bit like the plank! If you don’t practice the variability of movement around the trunk then you may not be any good at it. Rather than specific highly contrived exercises designed around creating isolated stability the core must decelerate and summate force as a contributor to the kinetic chain. A reach overhead for example may require the trunk to decrease stiffness, or increase the flexibility levels in that region to gain extension. Evolution has bestowed quite a lot of movement in the core region if we take a look at the anatomy, why then would we want to keep it still? The idea of stability to improve movement is a little alien to me especially an exercise such as the plank.
Posted on: Mon, 04 Aug 2014 15:33:00 +0000